CONCORD, NH - The Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire, in partnership with Ryan Cutting and The City of Concord, is pleased to announce the installation of a Black Heritage Trail of NH Historic Marker in Keene, New Hampshire, honoring the iconic Sunset League player William Penn “Bill” Thompson. This will be the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire’s first historic marker in Concord.
The unveiling ceremony will take place on Wednesday, August 12 at 6:00 PM. The marker’s permanent location and unveiling celebration will be at White Park, 1 White Street, Concord, NH, the home field of Concord’s Sunset League. The marker will be near the State of New Hampshire Historic Marker (#0147) indicating the History of the Park. This event is free and open to the public; all are welcome.
Bill Thompson, a legendary baseball player, was an African American baseball player who was born in Virginia before moving to Concord, NH around 1890. Thompson is believed to have been one of the last African Americans to play on an integrated team in an organized league following the 1876 “gentlemen’s agreement” that forced Black players out of professional baseball. Afterward, Thompson continued his baseball career with prominent Black teams, including the Cuban Giants and the Philadelphia Colored Giants. For much of the remainder of his life, Thompson played catcher in the Concord Sunset League, which played its games at White Park. Each spring, Thompson helped kick off the baseball season by dressing formally in a white suit, top hat, and cane to lead the parade to the park’s flagpole for the first game of the season. He carried his trusty catcher’s mitt and the baseball bat he had used from 1902 until the end of his career. Thompson became a beloved figure in the Concord community. In recognition of his contributions, the Concord Board of Aldermen voted in 1961 to name a local park in his memory: William Thompson Playground.
The Concord Sunset League is the oldest after-supper amateur baseball league in the U.S. and was established in 1909. Originally formed with four teams—Haymakers, Old Timers, Sluggers, and White Parks—the league has played continuously at White Park, serving as a historic, wood-bat training ground for local talent, including Major League player Red Rolfe. The league has served as a competitive league for decades, often featuring college players (Division II and III) to maintain form during the summer.
Representatives from the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire and the City of Concord will give brief remarks. Former league players, who played with Thompson, will be in attendance and will unveil the marker.
About the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire:
The Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire promotes awareness and appreciation of African American history and life in order to build more inclusive communities today. We work to visibly honor and share a truer, more inclusive history through exhibits, educational programs, curriculum development, and tours that can change the way our country understands human dignity when it is free of historical stereotypes. Building on the success of the Portsmouth Black Heritage Trail that started more than two decades ago, the statewide Black Heritage Trail connects the stories of New Hampshire’s African heritage by documenting and making visible many of the historic sites that testify to this rich history. The Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire is an independent, nonprofit organization. The organization is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit; Taxpayer Identification Number 81-3921917.